Valley of Death

MANCHESTER City are ready to roar off the starting blocks in the race for Premiership glory. The Blues are determined to hit the ground running this time around after taking only eight points from the first eight games last season on the way to finishing in ninth spot.

MANCHESTER City are ready to roar off the starting blocks in the race for Premiership glory.

The Blues are determined to hit the ground running this time around after taking only eight points from the first eight games last season on the way to finishing in ninth spot.

Visits to Charlton and Blackburn wrapped around a home clash with Portsmouth would seem to offer Kevin Keegan's men the ideal chance to be up with the pacesetters, though the manager is wary of tomorrow's trip to The Valley.

The Blues have drawn 2-2 and lost 4-0 on their last two visits to Charlton and history shows City have yet to register a win in the opening fixture of a top-flight fixture since the Premier League's inception more than a decade ago.

Keegan will be forced to make a change for the curtain-raiser because Dutch international midfielder Paul Bosvelt is suspended - a carry-over from last term when he was at Feyenoord.

Youngster Joey Barton is the most likely replacement though Danny Tiatto and Christian Negouai could also come into contention.

The manager has been particularly pleased with 20-year-old Barton, who only made his senior debut in April of this year and has just half a dozen Premiership matches under his belt.

"He has continued where he left off last season and is extremely dedicated to his profession," reckoned Keegan.

"We have the opportunity to get off to a fast start like everyone has, but we have got to go there and do the business. Charlton are always a tough nut to crack.

Organised

"Alan Curbishley has them well organised. They have played together quite a long time and there will not be that many changes.

"Matt Holland has come in, as has Paolo Di Canio, and they have a goalkeeping problem in that Dean Kiely is suspended, but we know about them."

Keegan is well-versed about Di Canio, too, and reckons Curbishley has concluded a shrewd piece of business bringing the passionate and volatile striker back from his exile in Italy.

"They have had a few days to fit Paolo in and I wouldn't be surprised if he plays against us," said Keegan. "The type of player he is if you put him out there, he will find a way of fitting in.

"We are talking about a very talented player here, one who maybe does not need a hundred training sessions with his team-mates.

"Paolo is the type of top class player who can go out there and sees the game one way, and one way only.

"Whether he has had three sessions with his new team-mates or 10, I think he will fit in well and is a great signing for them."

Keegan has no fresh injury worries following the UEFA Cup demolition of TNS.

His only other quandary is whether or not to retain Eyal Berkovic in the centre of midfield or hand a debut to Antoine Sibierski, who missed out on Thursday because he was not registered with City for the qualifying round following his late transfer from Lens.